Winter annual orbiennial with erect, robust stems from a fleshy taproot. Leaves alternate, smooth, dark green with a light green midrib and a whitish margin. Leaves deeply dissected, each lobe having one to five spines at the tip. Flowers with spine-tipped bracts, deep pink to purple, rarely white, and arranged in nodding-heads. Reproduces by seed. Occurs from North Carolina to Louisiana excluding Florida. Also in India and Africa. Native to Eurasia.